GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hey guys....I just got back from the dealership where I was having a new air box put in (a vaccum tube connection broke so they had to replace the entire air box assembly). I was driving it home and I noticed that when I am in 2nd gear and around 3500-4000 RPMs, I can get a nasty vibration or a sound like something is vibrating nastily. It is most easly produced by slowly taking 2nd up to 4000 RPMs and taking your foot off of the gas. Then slowly touch the gas again just a bit and BAM I get this sound like something is vibrating. It is a sound that kinda' reminds me of a metal ring around a metal pole and vibrating against each other. They did also adjust the alignment a bit. I am planning on stopping by again so I can personally take a tech out in my car so I can produce the noise for him. I HATE trying to verbally reproduce a sound a car make...I can never do the sound justice . My question is that do any other GT owners have any kind of a vibration or noise at around the those same RPMs in 2nd. I don't really hear it under straight/hard acceleration. Just if I slowly take it up leave her there. Any input would be greatly apprectiated. Also BTW...I had them look at the amp hiss and they basically said they could find nothing wrong (upgraded 200watt system).Jim

Sometimes I have a bit of dash vibration at moderate throttle from 4000-5500rpm. Don't think this is the problem you're dealing with.

I get some occasional buzzing from the dash, but nothing like you are describing.

The thing I keep thinking is that I don't remember this before I took my car in but I don't what they would have done that could have made my car to start making that sound. All they did was change the air intake air box and adjust the alignment. I will try and distinguish if the noise is comming from the engine compartment or the dash. One thing that was kinda' interesting was that my service consultant did acknowledge that there was a problem with vibrations right behind the rings on that dash (just as folks here have described). Evidently, by the way he talked about, it was a problem GM addressed. He did say the problem came from that little tab being a tad too long for the slot it was inserting into and causing it to rub/vibrate. Anyways, I will listen again tommorrow and see what I can find out.....then I get to have 4 wisdom teeth pulled at 10:30 . Thanks for the insights guys.Jim

Keep the vibration to a minimum in your car after getting 4 wisdom teeth pulled. Sounds like you have a fun day lined up.

LOL....yup. To top it off.....back to work first thing the AM. O well...a valid reason for an easy day Jim

I would say so, I'd be taking the day off if I had 4 teeth pulled. Ouch.

My GT likes to rattle in the mid-range. I just think it hits a natural resonance with other parts in the car at that speed...Jason

Automatic or manual tranny?Edit: Nevermind. GT's are all manuals.

The more I have listened to it (although it did not happen when I first left work), it sounds kinda' like a piece of sheet metal vibrating or buzzing.. Perhaps even a piece of hard plastic maybe. But it definately sounds like the engine compartment and not the dash.Jim

Could be the catalytic converter cover. They are known for rattling.

Is there any way to tighen up the cover if that is indeed loose? I listened for it again today on my way home from work and I think the best way to describe the sound is that it is a "buzzing" sound.....like a piece of sheet metal or hard plastic buzzing when vibrated. I will check under my car to see if that cover is loose in any way. As I stated before, it doesn't really happen on smooth or fast acceleration.....just when I slowly creep up to about 3800 and especially when I hang right around that same RPM in second gear without going faster ort slower.Thanks for the replys guys.Jim

the only Vibration I get is when the Passenger seat belt is not properlyput in its place ..sort of twisted the seat belt hits the plastic and causes this vibrating noise, I did not have any problems with the dash so far like the others.

I have heard that same vibration from time to time. Usually, I just give the panel that houses that seatbelt a quick touch and it stops. It doens't come up that often.Jim

Well.....upon poking around under the car for a bit, I would lay my money on the heat shield for the catalytic converter. I felt it and it is not loose from the bolts, but it is pretty flimsy. It seems to be in the right spot too. I always thought to myself..."this buzzing seems to be coming from right around where my feet are on the floorboard". Doe anyone know of a way to "damper" the buzzing this would make? Thanks for the insight guys.Jim

Try header wrap.

Hmmm.....I'll give it a try.Jim